Most Christians are concerned about this very question. “Is it God’s will?” Some sincerely want to know, while others may be just curious, but how can we know for certain what the will of God is? The plight of the Christian is often pictured in the Bible as a wilderness situation and there are simply no paths in the wilderness. One needs to find direction by some other means than experience, either ours or that of someone else. When no one has gone this way before, how do we know which way to go? In a natural wilderness one would look to a compass or the sun by day and the stars by night, but in a spiritual wilderness, how do we know which direction God wants us to go? Notice what Paul says:
Romans 12:1-2 Phillips NT (1) 1-2 With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.
For eleven chapters Paul has spoken of what we should believe and why. He told us how we can know Christ and how he has saved us from the power and the penalty of sin, but here in chapter 12 Paul begins to tell us how we can serve Christ and in effect know and do the will of God. He begins by telling us God’s will concerning our character, how we can become holy and pleasing to him, and secondly, he shows that after this is done we shall be in a position to understand what his will is concerning our service or what we can **do** to honor and please him.
The problem with many Christians is that we like to put the cart before the horse. We often want to do something pleasing for God when we have not prepared ourselves for the work ahead of us. This is why character is so important. One cannot be expected to work for God, if one does not bear the image of God. If we allow the world to “squeeze us into its mould,” we bear the image of this world. How can one who has the character of the world be prepared to serve God in a **godly** fashion—that is, in a manner that bears his image?
Paul gets really personal here. It isn’t very difficult to sit in church and promise God one’s soul and spirit. It would seem they are his responsibility, after all. But Paul says we must “give him our bodies!” This is where we begin to feel the discomfort of our relationship with him. But is this getting a little too close? This is more than being religious, isn’t it? Yes, and that’s the point.
God didn’t merely save my soul—he saved me! He saved my total self which includes my body. If I am serious enough to commit my body to Christ—what I do with my hands, what I allow myself to look at, what I listen to and what I speak etc.—when I am this committed to God, then I am ready to know God’s will, as far as service is concerned. Is this commitment too much? Does it go too far? No, not when one considers what Christ did for you and me. No, he was totally committed to us, soul, spirit and body! How could we not remember that he was committed in body too, when we think of the cross?
I cannot fulfill the purpose of God as far as my character is concerned, unless I am willing to submit my body—my whole self—to him daily. This is an intelligent, determined act of dedication and commitment, just like Christ was to me. Once this is done then the horse (my character) is before the cart (my godly service), and I’ll be empowered to do some good for the honor and glory of God.
Okay, say I’ve done all this, I’m still in the wilderness, so to speak. In which direction does God want me to go? The key is not to submit to the world’s “squeeze play.” Steer clear of its value system. As Christians, we often face some tough decisions on what is “worldly” and what is truly God’s will. J. P. Morgan once said: “A man always has two reasons for doing anything—a “good” reason and the real reason.” The particular situation may be difficult, but the choice is always clear: am I trying to please myself, preserve my interests in the group I associate myself with, or am I really interested in pleasing God?
The only way I am able to stay out of the world’s mould is to renew my mind, take inventory of what I look at, listen to, read etc. God’s will is known by becoming familiar with his word, the Bible. The world’s will is known by becoming familiar with its popular entertainment (TV) and through magazines and advertisements—all of which are designed to increase my appetite for sex, things, and pleasure. There is nothing inherently wrong with these things, but do I really need my appetite for them increased? I already have an appetite, but the world’s way is to inordinately increase that appetite, so that it controls me, rather than letting me through the power of God’s Spirit control my desires.
So how does this tell me what God’s will is? Well, years ago F.B. Meyer, a famous preacher of his day, was on a sea voyage. As the captain of the ship pulled into a narrow harbor one dark and stormy night Meyer asked him how he knew when to make the turn. The captain told him: “That’s an art. Do you see those three lights on shore? When they’re all in a straight line, I go right in.” And, so it is for the Christian. We have three navigation lights: the Bible, the inward witness of the Holy Spirit and outward circumstances. When all three of these are in alignment, one with the others we know which direction to go. Until they are, we must wait. Waiting is often difficult, but it is often the best thing to do.
In the next few verses (Romans 12:3-8) Paul lists some of the services we could do on behalf of God. We have our three lights: God’s word, God’s Spirit and God’s circumstance (the place where he has led us). In the end, however, only one thing really counts—be honest in my estimate. In the end I must act on what I have been given by God. I need to be honest about what I know (the word of God), what I understand about what I know (the Spirit of God) and my present circumstances (where God has led me). If I proceed with an honest heart, I can do nothing more. God will do the rest.
Technorati Tags: Epistle to the Romans, Paul, will of God, character, service to God, Bible, God’s Spirit, circumstances
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21 responses to “Is it God’s Will?”
You accuse of something which I did not do. I did not judge you, nor any of those so called religious group. What I did was to give you information, that your group to which you belong is not a Christian group. Where did I base that ?… In the bible.
The problem with you , your easily got angry and accuse me of something Open your eyes, and understand what the bible are saying and trying to relate to you. Do not be lazy. Now if you cannot understand it, find someone who can explain it to you, someone who is guided by the Spirit of God. For I assure you that you will never understand the bible, no matter what you do and no amount of college degree or doctorate degree that you will get will you be able to understand it, if you are not guided by the Holy Spirit. Is that hard for you to understand?
as Bro. Paul had said : “I may be rude in my speech, but not in knowledge”.
I will give you another example : Let’s talk about that cross that you use as a symbol.
Do you know that , that symbol is the symbol of an Anti-Christ. Now you got angry again.
Let me explain: The cross was the symbol used by the Roman Empire for killing their enemies. And one of their enemy was Christ Jesus, whom you profess to be your savior.
What I do not understand is, why is it you keep on using this symbol showing the world that you are a member of the Anti-Christ ,if you profess that you are a Christian? This is the symbol that killed you savior. Why do you embrace two conflicting ideas? It is because of the ignorance of those people who taught you and to which you BLINDLY loved to embrace and followed?
Do you want to continue to be one of those armies that are being deceived by the Devil, that are written in Rev.19:18-20?
Just asking.
And if you people are not interested to know the truth, … FINE WITH ME.
And by the way, the love which you fondly looking for, from my responses, are all in there. You just did not grasp it or perceive it .
better than Love which come from you, being deceitful. You deceive people, unknowingly, by your post.
You accuse of something which I did not do. I did not judge you, nor any of those so called religious group. What I did was to give you information, that your group to which you belong is not a Christian group. Where did I base that ?… In the bible.
I have no doubt that what you have said thus far on my blog is good and proper in your own eyes. Yet, I must tell you, friend, that your words were those of a judge and not a brother or an evangelist. To claim that I am not a Christian, when I claim to be a child of God, is judgment, for all those who have not received Jesus dwell in the wrath of God. They are being judged, but there is no judgment for those who are in Christ Jesus, according to the Scriptures. I remember the first time someone publicly declared I wasn’t a Christian. I was deeply hurt, and depressed for about a week. It took prayer and the comfort of Jesus’ Spirit within me to bring me around. It wasn’t the last time I was told I was not his, but it is the most memorable. I shall never forget the hurt of a respected brother telling me I was not a child of God. He didn’t know that he hurt me. I told him later. He was quite shocked, but told me again he didn’t believe I was a Christian.
No, my friend, you have judged me (and others). The “information” you offered came from a man who was making a judgment about my character and life’s path. But that’s okay—you need to admit it, but it’s okay in that no offense is taken. As I said earlier, I have learned not to be offended by such remarks, and by the way, everyone who makes such statements base their “information” on the bible.
The problem with you , your easily got angry and accuse me of something Open your eyes, and understand what the bible are saying and trying to relate to you. Do not be lazy. Now if you cannot understand it, find someone who can explain it to you, someone who is guided by the Spirit of God. For I assure you that you will never understand the bible, no matter what you do and no amount of college degree or doctorate degree that you will get will you be able to understand it, if you are not guided by the Holy Spirit. Is that hard for you to understand?
as Bro. Paul had said : “I may be rude in my speech, but not in knowledge”.
Here you have “judged” that I have a problem with anger. How would you know that? Have I made any accusations against you that were meant to hurt you? Have I condemned you, or said you were not a Christian? Have I threatened you with a hell-fire or any punishment whatsoever that God would administer if you didn’t repent etc.? All I said was, if you didn’t act a little more respectable in your writing, I would not permit you to comment on my blog. If that is my anger, big deal! How could that hurt you?
I understand quite well, what you are saying. You are saying that I do not have the Spirit of God and cannot understand spiritual things as explained by Paul in 1Corinthians 2. Moreover, not many great men are called by God, implying those who have taken the time to educate themselves have no “head start” in understanding Scripture, because it is not understood with man’s spirit but with God’s Spirit. So, if I haven’t the Spirit of God, not only am I not one of his, but I haven’t the slightest chance of understanding what God is saying in his word, which is communicated to my spirit by God’s Spirit, assuming he dwells within me.
I will give you another example : Let’s talk about that cross that you use as a symbol.
Do you know that , that symbol is the symbol of an Anti-Christ. Now you got angry again.
Let me explain: The cross was the symbol used by the Roman Empire for killing their enemies. And one of their enemy was Christ Jesus, whom you profess to be your savior.
What I do not understand is, why is it you keep on using this symbol showing the world that you are a member of the Anti-Christ ,if you profess that you are a Christian? This is the symbol that killed you savior. Why do you embrace two conflicting ideas? It is because of the ignorance of those people who taught you and to which you BLINDLY loved to embrace and followed?
Do you want to continue to be one of those armies that are being deceived by the Devil, that are written in Rev.19:18-20?
Just asking.
I wonder if it was this that first tipped you off that I wasn’t a Christian. I use the symbol of the cross to identify who I am. By using it, I testify in pectoral form that I preach Christ and him crucified. Was this the thing that offended you in the beginning concerning me? You call it the symbol of the anti-Christ. How do you know this is the symbol of the anti-Christ? Where is this stated in Scripture? Even if it were a symbol of such, and I used it ignorantly, shouldn’t you have investigated what I was trying to say before you judged me? You have made no specific statements concerning my blog except for pointing to this red cross. This is the first, and only specific statement you made over which you made your judgment. Everything else was generalities. I asked you what you saw in my blog that was not Christian and you replied “Everything!” Nothing specific was mentioned, until now. You are offended in the cross. Why? It represents Christ’s death, which we are supposed to preach. The sight of it reminds almost every western man or woman what Christians claim about Jesus.
And if you people are not interested to know the truth, … FINE WITH ME.
And by the way, the love which you fondly looking for, from my responses, are all in there. You just did not grasp it or perceive it .
better than Love which come from you, being deceitful. You deceive people, unknowingly, by your post.
Now, I am a deceiver! And, this is not a judgment? What happens to deceivers and where do they dwell in respect to the wrath of God? Don’t you see where you are placing me with your words? Let me say this, I see your love for others more in this post than any of the others. It seems my previous post to you hurt you. I feel badly about that, but I am not sorry. I don’t like to hurt people, but sometimes it is in the hurt we can find the love of God within each of us. We can begin here, Dove, but I recommend you begin reading my blog through the eyes of Christ. He is your Way. He is the Judge, and you and I are not. Let’s begin to try to understand one another through his eyes. He died for both of us, so he loves both of us. Let’s see if we can’t get along as brothers.
Peace,
Eddie
Eddie,
I am following this “debate” with great interest. I have even popped popcorn and brought some Pepsi.
dove124 is playing word games. She probably stumbled across your blog and then decided to label you as a non-Christian because she has nothing better to do.
However, it is providing me with great amusement, (because dove124 destroys the English language when she writes), and I think your answers to her have been brilliant.
dove124 writes like a woman. That’s why I refer to her as ‘her/she’.
Anyhoos, there is no shame in your game, Eddie. You make sense, and dove124 makes my inner child cry. I guess neither you or I are “really real Christians”, and we should probably listen to dove124 so we can find true Salvation.
Yeah. I’ll get right on that.
Donald in Bethel, CT
Correction , please!… I was not offended at all nor angry by any of your replies.
As I wrote the first time, I said unto you, to stop using “we” or “us”. Like this for example:
#How do “WE” know which direction God wants us to go? then you gave a verses Roman12:1-2.
#For eleven chapter of what”WE” should believe.
As I stated before , Paul was talking to “ALREADY CHRISTIANS” at that time, and not to you. So why do you keep on insisting in including yourself to them? The direction as you call it,in that verses , are for those who are already Christian at that time.
It will be meant for you also, if you become a bona fide Christian. But as of this point in time, you are not yet. Was it very difficult for you to understand?
These are the right direction recommended by the bible for a would -be- Christians :
A)
# Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth..(Eccl. 12:1)
# That they “SHOULD SEEK” the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find him, though HE be not far from every one of us.(Acts 17:27)
# That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, UPON WHOM MY NAME IS CALLED, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.(Acts 15:17)
# I said not unto the seed of Jacob, SEEK YE ME IN VAIN..(Isaiah 45:19)
#For every one that asketh receiveth; and HE THAT SEEKETH FINDETH; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.(Matthew 7:8)
B) Now if God seen you looking for Him.
# The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that DID UNDERSTAND, and SEEK GOD.(Psalms 14:2)
# I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go : I will guide thee with mine eyes.
Do not be like a horse or like the mule, which have no understanding
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.(psalms 32:8-9)
C) And after that: the instruction:
# Thus says the Lord:
STAND in the ways and SEE, and ASK for the old paths, WHERE the good way is, and WALK IN IT. Then you will find rest for your souls.(Jeremiah 6:16)
# Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
” THIS IS THE WAY, WALK IN IT”(Isaiah 30:21)
# ENTER by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are F E W who find it.(Matt. 7:13)
And after you have obeyed HIM….
# I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach Me (Jer.30:21)
# blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You. That he may dwell in your courts.(Psalms 65:4)
Question: where is His court? That will be discuss the next day, IF GOD’S WILL.
The topic will be”The Location”, the place to which you will practice holiness.
Donald ,
Well, do just that.
Enjoy yourself. Who knows, maybe you will get something out of this.
So I suggest that you buy a pack of Pepsi and bags of popcorn.This may take a little much longer.